Medication Errors in Hospitals

Monday, June 1, 2020

Medication Errors in Hospitals

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Those who are injured often receive medication when they are staying in the hospital. Medication can serve many purposes like helping to fight an infection, reduce pain, or help a patient fall asleep. Unfortunately, there are instances in which hospital staff makes a mistake in administering medication. There are many different reasons for this. For example, perhaps a nurse or doctor failed to communicate the medication that the patient had already taken, resulting in overmedicating the patient. In other instances, the hospital staff might over medicate a patient without realizing they have done so. Regardless of the error, if you have experienced a medication error when you were at the hospital, it is advisable to speak with a medical malpractice attorney to learn more about your options. 

Common Medication Mistakes in Hospitals

Although we put our trust in medical professionals and hospital staff when we are under their care, it is important to remember that they are still human and prone to error. Many nurses and doctors work long hours with little to no sleep during their shift. This can result in confusion, drowsiness, and lead to serious medication errors at the hospital. Some of the most common errors include:

• Confusion of similarly named drugs – Abbreviations for similarly named drugs often causes nurses to mix up the medication that they are looking for with something that has a name that is almost the same. This can result in giving a patient the wrong medication. 

• Incorrect dosage – Misreading the labels on medication or forgetting the right dosage to give to a patient is, unfortunately, a medication error that could be avoided, but often is not. Incorrect dosage could also be the result of nurses changing shifts without properly documenting the medication that was given to the patient, causing double dosage. Administering the incorrect dosage of a medication can result in serious damage and even fatality to the patient. 

• Wrong infusion rate – Even when medical professionals use electronic devices that are programmed to reduce infusion rate errors, these errors can still exist. An infusion rate error can result in a patient receiving too much or too little of the medication that they need within a certain time period. This can lead to serious medical implications and a dangerous situation for the patient who is being treated.

Contact a Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer As Soon as Possible

If you believe that you are a victim of a medication error, it is advisable to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. Medication errors in hospitals are often due to negligence on the part of the hospital staff, and this issue can be addressed by a legal professional. To learn more about your legal options, reach out to a skilled medical malpractice attorney at Malman Law. We are dedicated to helping our clients who have been impacted by medication errors and understand how challenging this situation can be. We offer a free consultation to all new clients, so call us today at (312) 629-0099 to discuss the details of your situation. You can also contact us online.